SSBN Yury Dolgoruky Almost Joined Russian Nuclear Force

Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Yury Dolgoruky successfully completed state trials along with Bulava missile system in Dec 2011 is almost commissioned into Russian maritime nuclear force, reported ITAR-TASS referring to a source in defense industry.

"Before official commissioning of Yury Dolgoruky into combat-worthy maritime strategic nuclear force, there are some minor technical issues to be settled, i.e. to load Bulava ballistic missiles into launch tubes, take torpedoes, water and food supplies on board, let the crew have rest after long-standing trials, and test all systems and mechanisms once again", explained the interviewee.

"A couple of months is quite enough to settle all those matters, and then the submarine will be ready for first patrol to be used for her intended purpose, i.e. providing nuclear deterrence in the Atlantic and the Arctic oceans", said the source.

"Entering of SSBN Yury Dolgoruky into Northern Fleet's operable force will be a kind of compensation for temporarily decommissioned SSBN Yekaterinburg suffered from fire at Roslyakovo repair plant", said the source. "Another compensation will be the first serial sub of the same project [955 Borei] SSBN Alexander Nevsky to join the Navy this year. The submarine has successfully passed shipyard's alpha sea trials in Oct-Nov, 2011", he added. "In the coming fall, it will be enough for Alexander Nevsky to finish sea trials successfully and make one effective Bulava launch. And then she could be easily commissioned", concluded the source.

Russian vice premier Dmitry Rogozin said on Jan 10 at the press conference after his visit to Murmansk region that SSBN Yekaterinburg damaged in the fire would be recovered. "The sub is okay, she'll go on defending the country", Rogozin said. As for him, only first section suffered from fire. "The sub is to be recovered. Experts have found technical solutions to repair and recommission her in due time", said the vice premier. "Also, we're going to compensate the gap in nuclear capability made by damaged SSBN Yekaterinburg. Russia's national security thus will be compensated", he assured.

Borei-class submarines were developed by Rubin Central Design Bureau (St. Petersburg). According to open sources, new technologies of shipborne radioelectronics and noisiness reduction were implied in construction of Borei subs. Their basic weapon is new missile system Bulava. Each submarine carries 16 solid-propellant ballistic missiles with 6 multiple warheads each. Borei-class subs are equipped with surfacing rescue chamber capable to accommodate the whole crew. Submarine length is 170 meters; beam is 13.5 meters; test depth is 450 meters; crew is 107 men.